Ultralight Packing List

compiled by Aaron Teasdale

Lightweight packing lists for an early July five-day, off-road ride in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country. To see more about the trip check out the feature story from the Dec/Jan 2011 issue of Adventure Cyclist.

Aaron Teasdale

Sleep system:

Big Agnes Fly Creek SL 1 flast fly tent, with 9 stakes

MontBell spiral down 30-degree sleeping bag

ThermaRest NeoAir 72-inch

Flex-Air inflatable pillow

Clothing:

Marmot Essence jacket

Marmot PreCip pants

Ibex wool short-sleeve shirt

Icebreaker wool long-sleeve shirt with thumb loops, chest zipper

Skins compression tights

MontBell U.L.Down Inner Half Sleeve Jacket, or “sh-vest”

Gordini poly/wool beanie OR liner gloves

Smartwool socks (for camp/sleeping)

Defeet wool riding socks

DownUnder insoles

Possibilities bag:

two SPD cleat bolts

hydration bladder nipple

biodegradable toilet paper and matchbook in baggie

insect repellant wipes (5) in baggie

zip ties (4)

duct tape, wrapped around broken pencil

waterproof matches

Wet Fire firestarter cubes

compass

Princeton Tec Scout headlamp

Inka pen

Bike tools:

Crank Brothers mini-pump

Specialized glueless patch kit

Park tire levers (2)

Specialized mini multi-tool

spare tube

Cook kit:

MSR titanium cup

Caldera Cone alcohol stove

bottle of denatured alcohol

polycarbonate spoon

Nutrition:

Pro Bars

Hammer Bars

Thai curry cashews

yogurt-covered peanut clusters

instant oatmeal packets

Mountain House freeze-dried dinners

instant soup — corn chowder, split pea

Elete electrolyte drops

Hammer Recoverite packets (one per night)

Katadyn chlorine dioxide water-treatment tablets

Notes:

This is a mid-summer packing list — if we were expecting cold temperatures or consistent wet weather I would have packed differently.

Look for ways to avoid redundancy within your group. For instance, Todd and I shared a stove; I would have brought a Leatherman, but I knew Jeff was bringing one; etc.

John Stamsted

Stamsted has an austere packing style that emphasizes multiple use and avoids redundancy. For instance, he does not use a sleeping bag because, “you can only sleep in it.” A down vest, on the other hand, you can wear as a vest and, if you’re John Stamsted, you can stick your legs through the armholes and sleep in it.

Louis Garneau Neo Power lycra shorts, one pair

Skins compression tights

Patagonia long sleeve wool crewneck shirt

synthetic T-shirt

one pair of socks, poly/wool blend

Patagonia Grade VI waterproof jacket and pants

Patagonia down jacket

Patagonia down vest (doubles as leg covering at night, with legs sticking out arm holes)

synthetic beanie

riding shoes

short-finger riding gloves

waterproof, uninsulated lobster gloves (“Because we’re in high mountain,” he says, adding a tip for riders that get caught out in cold or wet weather, “Surgical gloves can really get you out of a jam. Put them on over your short gloves. They’re waterproof and weigh nothing.”)